The cost of posting a letter is to go up to €1.21 from January 1, an increase of 11% in a year, PostNL has announced.

The postal service raised the price of stamps from €1.09 to €1.14 in July, following an eight-cent raise in January.

PostNL said the declining use of the service had forced it to raise the cover price after it posted losses of €17 million in the first quarter of 2024. The company is obliged by law to deliver 95% of letters on the next working day.

Letters overseas will cost €1.90 from January 1, a rise of 10 cents from the current rate and 15 cents since the start of the year. A standard size parcel will cost €8.25 if posted from a service point but only €6.95 if paid for online.

Maurice Unck, director of mail at PostNL, said: “Our delivery workers have less post in their bag. Whereas 20 years ago we delivered on average three letters a day per household, that is now three per week.

“At the same time the costs have risen substantially, which makes an increase in price necessary.”